Schneider Electric India Foundation (SEIF), the social impact arm of Schneider Electric, has inaugurated its third Climate Smart Village in Jharkhand, aimed at boosting rural livelihoods through renewable energy and digital empowerment. The new initiative, developed in Kocha village, Khunti district, was launched in partnership with PRADAN (Professional Assistance for Development Action), a leading rural development NGO.
The Climate Smart Village model integrates solar power, IoT-based energy management, and local entrepreneurship to promote sustainable farming, food security, and economic self-reliance. Schneider has installed a 40 kW solar mini-grid in Kocha, powering irrigation systems, agro-processing units, schools, healthcare centers, streetlights, and households — significantly improving quality of life in the region.
The inauguration ceremony was graced by Dipika Pandey Singh, Minister of Rural Development and Panchayati Raj, Government of Jharkhand; Kali Charan Munda, Member of Parliament, Khunti; and Sudeep Gudhiya, MLA, Torpa constituency. Senior Schneider Electric executives, including Damini Chaudhari, Vice President – Strategy, M&A & CSR, and Deepak Sharma, Zone President – Greater India & MD & CEO, Schneider Electric India, were also present.
Once dependent on rain-fed single-crop farming, Kocha’s farmers are now diversifying into multi-crop cultivation, local food processing, and organized marketing through their women-led Farmer Producer Organization, Torpa Mahila Krishi Bhagwani Saykari Swalambhi Samiti. This shift is helping increase farm incomes, reduce migration, and build local entrepreneurship.
“The Climate Smart Village initiative demonstrates how renewable energy, when combined with digital technologies and community entrepreneurship, can transform rural economies,” said Deepak Sharma. “By empowering farmers to grow more, process locally, and build sustainable livelihoods, we are contributing to an Atmanirbhar Bharat.”
According to Damini Chaudhari, “The Kocha model proves that decentralized, digital energy solutions can unlock long-term prosperity in rural India. It’s a scalable model that can be replicated across the country.”
Schneider Electric’s Climate Smart Village program now spans multiple districts in Jharkhand, with each project serving as a replicable blueprint for sustainable rural development. Through clean energy access and technology integration, the company continues to support India’s vision of energy equity, inclusive growth, and a self-reliant ‘Viksit Bharat’.
